have avenged myself on your hounds, and I will do the same to you, before you go.” Then Sir Gawain dismounted and raised his shield, and they struck together mightily. They cleaved their shields, damaged their helmets and broke their hauberks so that their blood swirled down around their feet.
Finally, Gawain struck so hard that the knight fell to the earth. Then the knight cried for mercy and yielded himself, beseeching Gawain that, as a gentle knight, he would save his life.
“You shall die,” said Sir Gawain, “for the killing of my hounds.”
“I will make amends,” said the knight. “I will do anything within my power.”
But Gawain would show no mercy, and unlaced the knight’s helmet to have struck off his head. At that moment his lady came out of a chamber and threw herself over him, and Gawain struck off her head by accident.
“Alas,” said Gaheris, “that is foully and shamefully done! You shall never be free of that shame. You should grant mercy to him who asks for mercy; a knight without mercy is without honor.”
Gawain was so seriously stunned at the death of this fair lady that he hardly knew what he was doing. He said to the knight, “Arise, and I will give you mercy.”
“Nay, nay,” said the knight, “I care nothing for mercy now, for you have slain with villainy my love, the lady I loved above all earthly things.”
“I deeply regret it,” said Sir Gawain, “for I meant that stroke for you. But now go to King Arthur, and tell him of this adventure, and how you were overcome by the knight who went in quest of the white hart.”
“I do not care,” said the knight, “whether I live or die.” But finally, for fear of death, he swore he would go to King Arthur. Gawain made him bear one of the dead greyhounds in front of him on his horse, and the other behind him.
“What is your name?” said Sir Gawain. “Tell me before we depart.”
“My name is,” said the knight, “Blamour of the Marsh.” So he departed toward Camelot.
Then Gawain went into the castle and was prepared to stay there the night, and would have unarmed himself.
CIII.8
“What are you doing?” said Gaheris. “Would you unarm in this land? You should realize that you have many other foes in this land.”
He had no sooner said these words than four well-armed knights came and attacked Sir Gawain, and said to him, “You newly-made knight, you have shamed your knighthood, for a knight without mercy is dishonorable. Also, you have slain a fair lady, which will be great shame to you until the end of the world. Doubt not that you shall need great mercy before you depart from us!” At that, one of them smote Sir Gawain with such a great stroke that he nearly fell to the earth. Gaheris then struck back, and they were soon assailed on all sides, such that the lives of Sir Gawain and Gaheris were in great jeopardy. A man with a bow, an archer, shot Gawain through the arm so that it pained him greatly.
Just as it seemed they would certainly be slain, four ladies came into the room and asked the knights to grant grace to Sir Gawain. And properly, at the request of these ladies, they granted Sir Gawain and Gaheris their lives, and forced them to yield as prisoners, for which Sir Gawain and Gaheris made great sorrow.
“Alas,” said Sir Gawain, “my arm pains me greatly; it is likely I will be maimed!” So he complained piteously.
Early in the morning one of the four ladies who had heard his complaint came to Gawain and said, “Sir knight, what cheer?”
“Not good.”
“Why so? It is your own fault,” said the lady, “for you have done something very terrible in the killing of this lady, which will be a great shame unto you. But are you not of King Arthur’s court?” said the lady.
“Yes, truly,” said Sir Gawain.
“What is your name?” said the lady. “You must tell me before you leave.”
“Fair lady, my name is Sir Gawain, the son of King Lot of Orkney, and my mother is King Arthur’s sister.”
“Then you are the king’s nephew,” said the lady. “Well,” said the lady, “for the love of King Arthur I shall speak on your behalf so that you may be allowed to return to the king.” She then departed and told the four knights how the prisoner was King Arthur’s nephew, named Gawain, son of King Lot of Orkney.
So they allowed him to depart, taking with him the hart’s head, since that had been his quest. They let him go on the condition that he promise to bear the dead lady with him, with her head hanging around his neck and the rest of her body lying in front of him across the horse’s mane. Gawain did as they commanded, and thus rode forth to Camelot.
As soon as he arrived, Merlin had King Arthur make Gawain swear to tell of his adventure: how he slew the lady, and how he would not grant mercy to the knight, which caused the death of the lady. The king and queen were greatly displeased with Sir Gawain on account of the death of the lady, and by ordinance of the queen Gawain was charged with a quest of ladies: he was ordered for the rest of his life to always side with ladies, and to fight on their behalf in any quarrel. He was also charged to be always courteous, and never refuse mercy to one who asked for it. Sir Gawain swore upon the four Gospels that he would never be against a lady or gentlewoman, unless he was fighting for one lady and his adversary was fighting for another.
Thus ends the adventure that Sir Gawain had on the occasion of Arthur’s marriage.
8 The Adventure of Sir Tor
When Sir Tor was ready he mounted on horseback and rode after the knight with the brachet. As he was riding, he suddenly encountered a dwarf who struck his horse on the head with a staff so hard that he reeled backward the length of a spear.
CIII.9
“Why did you do that?” said Sir Tor.
“Because you may not pass this way unless you joust with the knights in yonder pavilions.” Then Sir Tor noticed two pavilions, with great spears resting outside them, and two shields hanging on trees near the pavilions.
“I cannot delay,” said Sir Tor, “for I am on a quest that I must complete.”
“You may not pass this way,” said the dwarf, and then blew his horn.
Then an armed man on horseback came toward him, his shield at the ready, and came quickly at Sir Tor. Then he took up the position opposite him, and they ran together. Sir Tor knocked him off his horse, and then the other knight yielded to his mercy.
“But sir, I have a fellow in yonder pavilion that would like to have ado with you next.”
“He shall be welcome,” said Sir Tor, and he noticed another knight coming at him fiercely, and each faced off against the other, so that it was a marvel to see. This knight struck Sir Tor in the middle of shield so that his sword splintered. Sir Tor struck him underneath his shield, so that the blow went right through his side, but it did not kill him. Then Sir Tor dismounted and smote him on the helmet with a great stroke. At that, the knight yielded himself and asked for mercy.
“Gladly,” said Sir Tor. “But
